Pattern to fully complete 1-GW wind project in New Mexico by end-Dec - report

US renewables developer Pattern Energy Group LP expects to fully commission the 1,050-MW Western Spirit wind project in New Mexico by the end of December, an official told the Albuquerque Journal.

The project in question includes the construction of four wind farms and a new 155-mile transmission line between New Mexico and California.

Jeremy Turner, Pattern’s New Mexico project development director, told the newspaper that construction work on the transmission foundations is about 90% done and that the company has also completed some 70% of the transmission structures. As per the wind parks, less than 70 out of the 377 turbines are left to be installed.

According to spokesperson Matt Dallas, Western Spirit is the largest single-phase renewable energy project in the US. The company is investing almost USD 1.8 billion (EUR 1.52bn) in the scheme.

Upon completion, Western Spirit will sell power to California utilities and Uniper North America under separate power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Meanwhile, Pattern plans to spend a further USD 2 billion-3 billion on the construction of an additional 3 GW of local wind farms, subject to finally securing the required permits for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.846)

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